Time flowed like a steady river, and before long, the entire capital of **Eterna** was brimming with life. The air was charged with excitement—every street, every corner, and every plaza echoed with the feverish rhythm of preparation.
The **colosseum construction** was ahead of schedule thanks to **Gobkyu's** exceptional leadership. He directed the workers with sharp precision, his voice cutting through the bustling site like a blade. Meanwhile, **Mildo**, the youngest of the famed three dwarf brothers, had returned from his short leave to assist in perfecting the blueprints I personally designed.
Where my own drawings were purely functional, Mildo transformed them into something that could inspire awe. His artistic touch carved **elegance and grandeur** into every arch, wall, and column. The colosseum was no longer just a structure—it was becoming a **symbol of Eterna's power**.
When I visited the site, my piercing golden eyes swept across the workers, the rising marble pillars, and the shimmering banners. Mildo approached, wiping sweat from his forehead with a proud smile.
> "Your Majesty Atem," Mildo said, his voice steady but carrying the thrill of an artist, "it will be a masterpiece worthy of your reign. Even kings and emperors will bow their heads when they lay their eyes upon it."
I crossed my arms, my dark cloak gently flowing behind me as I surveyed the progress.
"Good. It should leave them breathless," I answered with calm authority, my tone leaving no room for doubt. "This arena will not just host battles. It will declare to the world that **Eterna** stands above all."
His eyes gleamed as he bowed deeply. "We'll make sure of it, Atem-sama."
The merchants and workers bustled around with renewed vigor after that brief exchange. Words of power had their weight, and I was well aware of how my presence alone drove people to move faster, more fiercely, more perfectly.
Meanwhile, **Myourmiles** and his subordinates were already laying the groundwork for the grand festival. New shops rose like mushrooms after rain, their staff practicing with eager citizens serving as test customers. The air was filled with the scent of roasted meat, sweet confections, and fresh bread. Laughter mingled with the clanging of hammers and the chatter of negotiations.
Myourmiles strode to my side, calm and collected as always, bowing lightly.
> "Everything is proceeding as planned, Atem-sama," he reported. "The shops are functioning smoothly, and sales are exceeding expectations. The people are… excited."
I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. His efficiency had become indispensable.
"You've done well," I said firmly. "Eterna moves because of how you handle its pulse. Continue, and don't let a single detail slip. This isn't just a celebration—it's a declaration."
He straightened, a confident smile tugging at his lips. "Understood."
As for the **Labyrinth**, I had handed control to **Ramiris** and **Veldora**. Normally, I would have liked to oversee it myself, but time was something even I could not multiply at will.
My attention was required elsewhere—especially now that **representatives from every tribe in the Great Forest** were beginning to arrive. Each came bearing their banners, their warriors, their doubts. They were here to **swear loyalty to me**… or to measure my strength.
The truth was simple: if I showed weakness, they would **rebel without hesitation**. They did not bow to a powerless sovereign. They bowed to **a king who could crush them**.
> "Their loyalty isn't a gift," I murmured to myself, staring from the balcony of the palace as the envoys approached. "It's a bargain they offer to power. And power… I possess more than enough."
Once, the Great Forest was under **Veldora's protection**, making it untouchable. Now, that shield was gone. In its place stood me—**Atem**, the new **Demon Lord** of this land. What kind of ruler I was, and what ideals I upheld, were all still unknown to them. And fear always follows the unknown.
That fear would be **forged into respect** today.
The ceremony began.
I stood on an elevated altar, **dressed in my ceremonial attire**—a deep obsidian robe lined with gold, shimmering with magic seals and hieroglyphic inscriptions. Unlike the soft form Rimuru once held, I stood tall, regal, the weight of **divine authority** resting on my shoulders. The crowd fell silent the moment I appeared.
The **decorations** they placed upon me were excessive, yes, but their purpose was clear: to make my presence absolute. Golden cuffs wrapped around my wrists, a radiant crown rested on my head, and my dark cloak trailed across the altar like a shadow swallowing the light.
I gave no complaint. A king does not squirm beneath the weight of a crown. He makes the crown submit to him.
**Benimaru** stood to my right, **Shuna** to my left—both of them in their finest formal attire, their faces reflecting absolute loyalty. Behind me were **Shion**, **Souei**, and **Gabil**, standing in a tight formation like silent predators awaiting my command.
**Ranga** lurked unseen in my shadow, ever faithful.
To my right, **Gobta** led one hundred mounted goblin riders—uniformed, disciplined, deadly. To my left, **Gobua** commanded a hundred elite Kurenai soldiers. The remaining forces patrolled the streets, while **Shion's Yomigaeri** prowled incognito among the masses, unseen but ready to crush any disturbance before it grew.
The air was heavy with ceremony, power, and unspoken **tension**.
> "This is your moment," Benimaru whispered without turning his head.
> "No," I corrected softly, my voice like polished steel, "this is **Eterna's** moment. The world will remember what they saw here."
Shuna chuckled lightly under her breath, but even she could not hide her awe at the sight of the gathered envoys.
Rigurd and Rigur, dressed in formal attire, moved with practiced grace, greeting the arriving representatives with a dignity befitting my court. Every gesture, every word they spoke, reflected the order I demanded of my people.
They had told me earlier to **remain silent during the ceremony**, letting my **aura speak for me**. They were right. My mere gaze was enough to make some of the lesser envoys tremble.
I stood unmoving, a **sovereign carved from the storm itself**, and looked down at the gathered tribes.
This was no longer a festival.
This was the **first test of their loyalty**.
And I intended to **make them bow**.
On another note, Diablo and Hakurou had yet to return from Farmus.
According to the first group to return—Gobta, Ranga, and Gabil—the two were wrapping up their final tasks before the Founding Festival. Diablo had apparently expressed regret, in his usual smooth manner, that he wouldn't get to witness me in what he called my "majestic ceremonial attire." Gabil, of course, had found it hilarious.
"He said Your Majesty would look like a god descending upon mortals," Gabil had reported, laughing.
"He's not wrong," Gobta added, scratching his head nervously.
Ranga, crouched silently beside them, simply nodded in absolute seriousness.
Their inability to return quickly wasn't surprising. Youm was about to be crowned king, and once the ceremony concluded, the name 'Farmus' would be erased, replaced with a new kingdom built upon Youm's ideals. Diablo was overseeing the political restructuring, ensuring Youm's rule would rise without opposition.
As for Hakurou, he lacked the ability of Spatial Movement, so it made sense why I hadn't seen him for some time. Even so, their absence was felt. When they returned, they would not only be acknowledged—they would be rewarded handsomely. I reward loyalty and strength in equal measure.
I wasn't the only one burdened with responsibility. Everyone was pushing themselves to make Eterna's Founding Festival shine brighter than any event in history.
Even though being dressed up like some decorative royal statue was not how I enjoyed spending my time, I endured it without complaint. A king doesn't squirm. He commands—even when bound by ceremony.
Still, I wanted this reception to end swiftly. There were far more crucial matters awaiting my direct hand.
I shifted slightly on the altar, the weight of my attire settling heavily on my shoulders like a mantle of gold and shadow. From this elevated position, I could clearly observe the envoys and tribal representatives arriving.
Their reactions were predictable, yet revealing.
There were three kinds of looks cast toward me:
Reverence. Observation. Fear.
Those who revered me already understood. They had heard the whispers—how I crushed armies, how I ruled Eterna with iron will and unshakable presence. Their eyes shone with awe, their bodies bowed low as if afraid that even looking at me too long might burn them.
Those who observed me did so cautiously, trying to measure me. They wanted to know if my rule was real or just smoke and mirrors. It didn't bother me. Let them look. Let them weigh their chances. Once they saw my power, their curiosity would turn to submission.
And then, there were those who feared me.
Right at the front, trembling slightly, stood a group of rabbitmen—a weaker tribe of demi-humans. Their soft, human-like features contrasted sharply with their long, delicate rabbit ears that twitched nervously as my golden gaze swept over them. Unlike beastmen, they lacked Transformation, making them far more vulnerable in the Great Forest.
I could feel their fear pressing against me like a thin mist. Their wide eyes avoided my direct gaze, and the way their shoulders hunched gave away their instinct to flee. But they didn't run. They stood there—because they understood the weight of this moment.
Their tribe had survived this long by relying on an almost supernatural Danger Perception. It made sense. They could sense it now—the depth of my power. They weren't reacting to the gold in my attire or the banners of Eterna. They were reacting to me. To the presence that filled the plaza like a storm about to break.
"They're shaking," Shion murmured from behind me, her voice low, edged with amusement.
"Of course they are," Benimaru replied calmly, arms crossed. "They're prey staring at a predator who doesn't need to bare his fangs."
Shuna tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing as she observed them. "But their reaction is more than fear. It's instinct. They know what Atem-sama is capable of… even if they've never witnessed it."
I let their words fade into the air as I continued to watch the rabbitmen. One of them, a young female with soft silver hair and long white ears, dared to raise her eyes toward me. Her breath caught the moment our gazes met. She froze—not because I threatened her, but because she understood what I was.
"So… some of them can still stand their ground," I said quietly, my voice carrying through the stillness like a blade drawn from its sheath.
The surrounding soldiers straightened instantly, the air tightening around the envoy group. The rabbitmen flinched as if they'd felt a sudden gust of cold wind.
But I didn't release a single thread of killing intent. I didn't need to. My presence alone was enough.
"Atem-sama," Benimaru said respectfully. "Shall I have the envoys from the weaker tribes escorted to their place?"
"No," I answered, my voice calm but absolute. "Let them walk on their own. If they can't even stand in my presence, they have no place in Eterna's future."
Shuna's lips curved slightly at my words. Shion smirked. Gabil muttered a quiet, "As expected of Atem-sama."
The rabbitmen bowed their heads quickly and lowered their ears submissively. It wasn't forced. It was instinctive. Nature bows to the stronger force.
And in this land, I was that force.